South African Life Histories

POLSCI 406S

Explores the last century of South African history through the lens of biography and autobiography. Protagonists range from little known South Africans like the sharecropper Kas Maine, an African prophetess, and the self-styled godfather of Soweto to political artists and writers, and will include some of the country's most famous citizens like Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko and Helen Suzman. Readings are a mix of scholarly and non-scholarly writings. Some of the issues we will discuss include the ways in which segregation and apartheid affected people's daily lives, ideological and programmatic opposition to white supremacy, and the AIDS epidemic. Instructor: Shapiro.